Local News
Pilots From Across the Country Train to Assist With Fire Fighting Effort
Friday, April 23, 2010 —
CHARLOTTE, N.C. …. The North Carolina Air National Guard is co-hosting the annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training, to be held April 24 to May 1, 2010 with the National Forest Service in Greenville S.C. Once certified, pilots can assist with firefighting efforts on national forest lands nationwide. Up to 80 practice flights per day will be visible in Western N.C. and S.C. upstate areas. Flight operations will be based at the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center in Greenville, S.C.
The military C-130s equipped with slide-in MAFFS units can drop up to 3,000 gallons of retardant or water on wildfires. The retardant is dropped ahead of a fire to slow its spread. Its bright red color helps the pilots determine the accuracy of their drops. The retardant contains a fertilizer which helps promote new plant growth following the fire season.
Trained military units with the MAFFS equipment are called on to supplement other firefighting resources during periods of high wild land fire activity. During the annual training and re-certification, the planes will drop water on target sites in National Forests in Georgia, North and South Carolina.
MAFFS support specialist and aviators from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, NC Forest Service and CAL FIRE will be leading the week-long training. Included will be classroom time, flight training and recertification for military flight crews, civilian lead plane pilots and various support personnel.
Military personnel involved in the training include air and ground personnel from the 153rd Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard (ANG) based in Cheyenne Wyoming, the 145th Air Wing of the North Carolina ANG based in Charlotte North Carolina, the 146th Air Wing of the California ANG, Port Hueneme, California and the 302nd Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserves from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Congress established the authority for the MAFFS program in the early 1970’s to support wild land firefighting through an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. The military aircraft are requested by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and activated through the U.S. Northern Command, based on an agreement with the Department of Defense.
Note to Editors: A media opportunity has been scheduled for April 29, from 10am to 2pm in Greenville S.C., more details to follow. Please contact Lt. Col. Rose Dunlap at 980.721.4032 as soon as possible but not later than Wednesday, April 28, at 2 p.m. for ramp access requirements.
- Local News
-
-
Fair opens tonight
Rides, games, music and more hit the Stanly County Fairgrounds tonight in the form of the 76th annual Stanly County Fair, sponsored by American Legion Post 76. This year, the rides will be put on by J&J Amusements.
-
Even though deadline has passed, SCS still accepts donations
With donations still coming in, the school tools campaign has been deemed a success according to Pokie Noland, Stanly County Schools director of student services.
-
Albemarle Police Report
Albemarle Police Department reports the following activity:
• Mitchell Jermaine White, 22, was arrested on a charge of possession of Sch. II on Lundix Street at Washington Lane, Aug. 27. -
Stanly County Sheriff’s Report
Stanly County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity:
-
Pedestrians, motorists urged to be cautious at Pfeiffer
A Pfeiffer University student had a brush with death when crossing the road on Wednesday.
According to Misenheimer Police Chief Tracey Wyrick, the student assumed that an approaching vehicle would stop as a courtesy. This misunderstanding led to the student nearly being struck. -
West teacher receives state business award
A local teacher has won one of the highest education awards in the state.
John Thompson, a business education teacher at West Stanly High School (WSHS), recently received the Orus B. Sutton Award, which is presented to the Outstanding Business and Information Technology Teacher of the Year in North Carolina. -
Committee discusses renovations to school facilities
Many of the local schools will be getting a makeover this school year. In its meeting last week, the Stanly County Board of Education Facilities Committee discussed specific renovations to the schools.
-
Stanly County Sheriff’s Report
Stanly County Sheriff’s Report announces the following activity:
• Robert M. Burroughs, Sutton Springs Road, Charlotte, reported damage to property, Aug. 20. -
Correspondent no longer with TV station
UNC-TV Senior Legislative Correspondent Eszter Vajda is no longer employed at the state’s public television network as of Aug. 18, according to Gail Zimmermann, associate general manager of the station.
- Albemarle Police Report
- More Local News Headlines
-
